Tripura High Court
Smt. Archana Debnath & Others vs The State Of Tripura & Others on 16 May, 2024
Page 1 of 3
HIGH COURT OF TRIPURA
AGARTALA
WP(C) No.334 of 2024
Smt. Archana Debnath & others
.........Petitioner(s);
Versus
The State of Tripura & others
.........Respondent(s)
For Petitioner(s) : Mr. A. Bhaumik, Advocate,
Mr. S. Dey, Advocate.
For Respondent(s) : Mr. Kohinoor N. Bhattacharyya, G.A.,
Ms. Kahina Reang, Advocate.
HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. APARESH KUMAR SINGH
Order
16/05/2024
Petitioners have approached this Court seeking the benefit of past
service for all purposes including pension, gratuity, leave at credit, pay
protection, counting of period for the purpose of determining five years' fixed
pay period and extend the arrears of financial benefits in their favour upon grant
of such benefit. The brief facts of the case as pleaded are referred to hereinafter.
Petitioners contend that they participated in the fresh selection process after
obtaining No Objection Certificate from their previous employer and got
selected in the post of Graduate Teacher (Secondary level). Thereafter, they
also took technical resignation which was accorded to them to join in the new
post of Graduate Teacher (Secondary level). They joined in the new post of
Graduate Teacher (Secondary level) through proper channel and also took
technical resignation to join in the new post. The Ministry of Personnel, Public
Grievances and Pensions, Government of India has also issued an office
memorandum dated 17.08.2016 regarding the effect of the technical
resignation. The said memo is also adopted in the State of Tripura and it
provides that in case of Technical Resignation, the past service of an employee
is counted for all purposes. The resignation is treated as technical resignation if
the employee has applied through proper channel for a post in the same or some
other department and on selection is required to resign from the previous post
for administrative reasons. Petitioners contend that similarly situated teachers
had approached this Court by filing WP(C) No.722/2022 and vide judgment
and order dated 17.03.2023, this Court had directed the department to consider
their representations. Thereafter, vide memorandum dated 17.12.2023, three
writ petitioners have been granted the benefit of past service. In WP(C)
No.141/2024 in the case of Sri Anup Baul & others v. The State of Tripura &
others, this Court directed the respondents to consider the representation of the
petitioners and pass appropriate order in light of the memorandum dated
17.12.2023. According to the petitioners, the instant case is also covered by the
judgment and order dated 06.01.2021 passed in WP(C) No.234/2020 and other
batch matters wherein this Court extended benefit of past service to persons
appointed to teaching posts from non-teaching posts. The representation made
by the petitioners on 30.03.2024 has not yet been acted upon. Therefore, they
have approached this Court.
2. Mr. A. Bhaumik, learned counsel for the petitioners, submits that
the respondents may be directed to consider the representation of the petitioners
in accordance with law and grant the aforesaid benefits. He also relies upon the
case of Sri Dilip Shil & others v. The State of Tripura & others in WP(C)
No.722 of 2022 wherein pursuant to the order dated 17.03.2023 passed by this
Court, those writ petitioners have been granted the benefit of past service. As
such, the respondents may be directed to take a decision in accordance with law
in respect of the present petitioners also.
3. Mr. Kohinoor N. Bhattacharyya, learned Government Advocate
for the respondents-State, submits that the instant petition has been taken up for
the first time. Therefore, instructions are awaited. However, since the
consideration on this issue at the first instance lies before the competent
authority under the department; in case the representation of the petitioners has
not been considered on account of enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct,
the respondent-department would consider it in accordance with law in a
suitable time as may be directed by this Court.
4. Having regard to the nature of relief sought for by the petitioners,
since the representation of the petitioners is pending before the concerned
respondent authority, this Court without expressing any opinion on the merits
of the case deems it proper to direct the competent authority/respondent No.2 to
take a decision upon their representation in accordance with law within a
reasonable period preferably within 16(sixteen) weeks from the date of receipt
of copy of this order.
5. The instant petition is disposed of with the aforesaid observations.
Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of.
(APARESH KUMAR SINGH), CJ
Pulak
PULAK BANIK Date: 2024.05.17 11:24:23
